A description of the hitherto unknown larvae of Drusus radovanovici septentrionis Marinković-Gospodnetić, 1976 and Drusus croaticus Marinković-Gospodnetić, 1971 is given. The most important diagnostic features enabling separation from larvae of the other Drusinae are listed and illustrated. Larvae of D. croaticus are distinguished by the combination of specific morphological features (e.g. shape of head and pronotum, the absence of mandible teeth, the absence of prominent, black median setae on frontal margin of pronotum etc.). Besides the above mentioned, larvae of D. radovanovici septentrionis are primarily distinguished by distinct spinules on the head capsule. Some ecological notes are given and the life cycle of both species is discussed. Regarding the feeding behaviour, both analyzed species seem to be predominantly grazers. Both species were recorded in different spring types in the Dinarides. D. radovanovici septentrionis is known only from three springs in Bosnia and Herzegovina (springs of the Rivers Pliva, Bistrica and Sturba), while D. croaticus was recorded in 19 different springs in Croatia. Additionally, all Trichopteran species recorded from the sampled springs are listed.

We describe a new autumnal caddisfly species Chaetopteryx bucari sp. n. from 8 localities in the Banovina region of Croatia. We also present molecular, taxonomic and ecological notes (emergence, sex ratio and seasonal dynamics) on the new species and discuss the distribution of Chaetopteryx species in general and the Chaetopteryx rugulosa group in particular. Based on Bayesian phylogenetic analysis Chaetopteryx rugulosa schmidi was separated from the clade containing the other subspecies of Chaetopteryx rugulosa. Thus the subspecies Chaetopteryx rugulosa schmidi is here raised to species level, Chaetopteryx schmidi, as it was described originally. We further present distribution data on rare species in the genus Chaetopteryx in Croatia.

In this study we present morphological features of the last instar larvae of Drusus ramae Marinković-Gospodnetić, 1971, and Drusus medianus Marinković-Gospodnetić, 1976, both of which are endemic species from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI), larvae of these species were successfully associated with adult specimens. We present the most important diagnostic features enabling separation from larvae of the other Drusus species and an identification key for the known larvae of Drusus species in the Balkan Peninsula. Notes on the distribution and ecology of both species are given. Additionally, faunistics and possible conservation implications for studied springs are discussed.

Despite increasing information about postglacial recolonization of European freshwater systems, very little is known about pre-Pleistocene history. We used data on the recent distribution and phylogenetic relationships of stone loach mitochondrial lineages to reconstruct the initial colonization pattern of the Danube river system, one of the most important refuges for European freshwater ichthyofauna. Fine-scale phylogeography of the Danubian populations revealed five highly divergent lineages of pre-Pleistocene age and suggested the multiple origin of the Danubian stone loach. The mean sequence divergence among lineages extended from 7.0% to 13.4%, which is the highest intraspecific divergence observed so far within this river system. Based on the phylogeographical patterns, we propose the following hypothesis to relate the evolution and dispersal of the studied species with the evolution of the Danube river system and the Carpathian Mountains: (i) during the warmer period in the Miocene, the areas surrounding the uplifting Alps and Carpathians served as mountainous refuges for cold-water adapted fish and promoted the diversification of its populations, and (ii) from these refuges, colonization of the emerging Danube river system may have taken place following the retreat of the Central Paratethys. Co-existence of highly divergent mtDNA lineages in a single river system shows that range shifts in response to climatic changes during the Quaternary did not cause extensive genetic homogenization in the stone loach populations. However, the wide distribution of some mtDNA lineages indicates that the Pleistocene glaciations promoted the dispersal and mixing of populations through the lowlands.

A.: DNA barcoding of the family Phryganeidae (Insecta, Trichoptera) in Croatia with particular reference to phylogeny, distribution and conservation biology. Nat. Croat., Vol. 28, No. 2., 305-323, 2019, Zagreb.In Europe the Phryganeidae family comprises 7 genera and 20 species. In Croatia, 6 species have been recorded from this family, and four of them recorded and collected in the last five years have been DNA barcoded. In terms of faunistic research, most interesting is the record of Trichostegia minor Curtis, 1834 from the region of the Gacka River in Lika, in upland Croatia. Up to now four species have been included in the BOLD system with 6 DNA-barcoded specimens. From the Gacka River area, 11 specimens of 8 species, including T. minor, have been barcoded and included into the BOLD system. Phylogenetic research based on DNA barcode data has shown some interesting results. Specimen of T. minor collected in the area of the Gacka River is clustered with a specimen of this species from Austria into a separate subgroup, which shows minor molecular specifics. Phylogenetic analysis has confirmed the justification of the status of a subspecies from Mongolia, Phryganea grandis rotundata Ulmer, 1905.Future Trichoptera fauna research in Croatia will continue investigations of the family Phryganeidae in various parts of the country for the purpose of ascertaining the detailed distribution of all the species recorded, to enable finding some other previously missing species, as well as collecting and DNA barcoding of Hagenella clathrata (Kolenati, 1848) and Oligostomis reticulata (Linnaeus, 1761). With respect to these species, the data will also be useful for the area of conservation biology, necessary for their protection and for the protection of the sites in which they occur, for it is clear that these are very rare species in Croatia, T. minor also belonging to this group: 50% of the species from this family recorded in Croatia are rare and very rare species. Kučinić, M. et al.: DNA barcoding of the family Phryganeidae in Croatia with particular reference to ...306 Kučinić, M., Ćukušić, A., Cerjanec, D., Podnar, M., Plantak, M., Žalac, S., Ćuk, R., Vučković, I., Ibrahimi, H. & Delić, A.: DNA barkodiranje porodice Phryganeidae (Insecta, Trichoptera) u Hrvatskoj, s posebnim osvrtom na filogeniju, rasprostranjenost i konzervacijsku biologiju. Nat. Croat., Vol. 28, No. 2., 305-323, 2019, Zagreb. Porodica Phryganeidae broji u Europi 7 rodova i 20 vrsta. Iz ove porodice na području Hrvatske utvrđeno je 6 vrsta, od kojih su DNA barkodirane četiri vrste, zabilježene i prikupljene u posljednjih pet godina. Faunistički najzanimljiviji je nalaz vrste Trichostegia minor Curtis, 1834 s područja rijeke Gacke (regija Lika), gorska Hrvatska. U BOLD bazu upisane su četiri vrste sa šest DNA barkodiranih primjeraka. S područja rijeke Gacke je DNA barkodirano i upisano u BOLD bazu 11 primjeraka s osam vrsta, uključujući i vrstu T. minor. Filogenetska istraživanja temeljena na analizi DNA barkod podataka pokazala su zanimljive rezultate...

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Abstract. Geographic isolation, altitude, climate, landscape and habitat are significant predictors of butterfly diversity in mountain ecosystems. Their diversity and its dependence on altitude, aspect (compass bearing) and biogeographic characteristics of the butterflies were surveyed on the karst mountain Biokovo in southern Croatia. The results affirm that there is a high diversity of butterflies in the study area and the species composition and biogeographic elements are more dependent on altitude than aspect of the mountain. The present study indicates that climate, relief and habitat preferences strongly influence the biogeographic features of species and the relationship between species richness per site and altitude, aspect and the altitude-aspect interaction.

Two species of the genus